Every time Sophia Sanchez and her boyfriend Lemar Blackwood are on vacation, their routine is the same. Sanchez goes on all the water rides while Blackwood watches.

After having nearly drowned when he was 5, Blackwood developed a fear of the water and never learned how to swim.

"I swam with the dolphins in Mexico, went on most of the rides at a water park in Camel Beach, Pa., and swim in deep water in all the pools and beaches -- all by myself," said Sanchez, 27. "While I have fun, it's not the same experience without Lemar. His not being able to swim has really limited us in what we could do together."

The couple's next vacation however, to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., should be much more enjoyable, since Blackwood recently learned how to swim. After taking an adult swimming class at the Dive Shop Aquatic Center in Brookfield, he conquered his fear and is comfortable swimming in any kind of water.

"It's never too late to learn how to swim," said Blackwood, 27, of the Bronx, N.Y., who works as a purchaser. "The more time I spend in the water, the more comfortable I'm getting."

Blackwood's swimming instructor, Karen Black, said being able to swim is a necessity for people of all ages. Anyone, she said, can find themselves in a situation where knowing how to swim can save their lives or the life of a loved one.

"You want to be able to take your kids to the beach or a water park and not have to rely on lifeguards to watch them," said Black, 32, of Newtown, who has taught swimming for 16 years. "This is what motivates many adults to sign up for swim lessons."

Also, swimming regularly (at least three times a week for about a half hour at a time) offers many health benefits, Black said. "First, it's a low-impact sport. It cushions the body and isn't jarring, unlike some other sports," she said. "If you have an injury, many physicians recommend swimming as a way to heal. Those with knee injuries can try water running and those with a back injury can work with water barbells to strengthen their back muscles."

Swimming also burns calories, helps with weight loss, and can tone the whole body at once.

Most adults who sign up for swimming lessons aren't looking to go for the gold any time soon -- they just want to get comfortable in the water, said Melissa Flannery, co-owner of Wings Over Water School of Swimming in Fairfield. She recommended taking any measure to ensure this, including requesting a mature swimming instructor.

"While there are great swimming instructors of any age, many times adults can relate better to an instructor who is closer to their age," said Flannery, who has taught swimming since she was a teenager.

Most swim schools offer both private and group lessons for adults, and Flannery recommended group lessons. "In group classes, you have the support of the other people," she said. "People get to share how they're feeling in each class. You learn from the other students."

Flannery said to get the most out of their lessons, students should communicate their specific swimming goals to their instructor. "What does being able to swim mean to you? Does it mean to swim a lap? To move around in the deep end of the pool? To save your children in case they're drowning? Learning how to swim can mean different things to different people," she said.

The kind of equipment students use, and the type of pool used for lessons can also play a role in putting people at ease. For instance, Black said students should wear swim goggles to every lesson. "Goggles make you more comfortable under the water since you don't have to worry about getting water in your eyes," she said. She recommended prescription goggles for those who need them.

Water temperature plays a large role in one's comfort level as well. "No one wants to learn how to swim in cold water," Flannery said. A heated pool ensures students aren't preoccupied with trying to stay warm and instead can focus all their attention and energy on their lesson.

Black said to begin the first lesson water shallow enough for the student to stand in. "If you're able to put your feet on the bottom, you'll feel like you're in control and this will help decrease your anxiety," she said.

As with mastering any new skill, practicing is essential. "I practiced each new technique I learned -- including putting my head in the water, kicking, floating, and treading water -- about six or seven times before I moved on to the next one," said Bethel resident Chanda Krom, 38, who learned how to swim in May.

Sometimes feeling comfortable in the water may be as simple as one's choice of words. "The very word `relax' can sometimes be enough to make a person tense up," Black said. "Instead, try and think of more calming synonyms for this word such as `softening all your muscles' or `making your muscles loose like Jell-O.' "

After a lifetime of not swimming, many adults tend to get impatient and focus too much on the end product. They want to know the exact moment when they'll be able to swim. Black said instead, they should take it step by step. "Feel confident in knowing it's okay if you don't get it on the first try. You can just keep trying," Black said.

The most important thing is to have fun. "Don't take your lessons too seriously," said Krom, who works as a customer service representative. "Enjoy being in the water and getting the chance to learn a new skill."

Sandra Diamond fox is a freelance writer in Connecticut and can be reached at Sandraifox@aol.com.